Monday, December 25, 2017

Although this stamp set by Rubbernecker Stamps is a probably more often used for creating a garden scene, I thought it would be fun to make the stamped pieces into a wreath for a holiday card. Matching dies make it easy to create. I used red tinsel embossing powder for the flowers, which gives them a beautiful sparkly look (unfortunately the sparkle doesn't show up well in the photos but it's really pretty in person). The Liquid Platinum embossing under the edges of the red mat, perfectly matching the sentiment, is an elegant touch to this clean looking holiday card.

Affiliate links may be included in this post. I participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program that provides a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites at no cost to you. This helps offset a small portion of my crafting addiction... uh, hobby. See notice at bottom of blog for a longer description.

5. Use a ball stylus and a molding pad to shape all leaves and pine boughs by rubbing the ball stylus over the leaves/needles (front side), curving them slightly upwards. Note: you could also use the end of a paint brush or die pick and a mouse pad. Arrange leaf branches around sentiment on card to get an idea of spacing. Adhere with liquid adhesive (I prefer Beacon Kids Choice Glue for this - it's thick and dries clear). See photo. Adhere the pine boughs as shown. Use ball stylus and molding pad to shape flowers by placing them face down on the pad and rubbing behind the petal areas. Flip and press ball stylus in center (if glitter gets on pad, just touch some tape to it to remove it). Use dimensional/mounting tape to adhere flowers as shown.

Sunday, December 17, 2017

I have collected a lot of metallic embossing powders over the years. When I saw this Christmas Tree Set by Rubbernecker Stamps, I thought I would like to emboss the different trees in variety of metallics on dark cardstock. The touch of gold matting really finishes this elegant card.

Affiliate links may be included in this post. I participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program that provides a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites at no cost to you. This helps offset a small portion of my crafting addiction... uh, hobby. See notice at bottom of blog for a longer description.

3. Cut dark blue cardstock 4 1/2 x 6 1/2 inches. Use a powder tool over the surface. Place cardstock in corner of Stamp Platform then line up stamps in their approximate positions. Be sure to leave enough space in the middle for sentiment. Remove all but one stamp. Note: you could also use a stamp positioner or just eyeball it. Stamp using VersaMark ink or other embossing ink. Emboss in one of the metallic colors. Repeat the process one stamp at a time, using a different metallic embossing powder for each tree until all six have been embossed. You might want to keep in mind the order you would like the embossing colors to be on the final card. Some of my powders are old and no longer manufactured but I also used Ranger powders; I love the way they emboss. Under Supplies, I listed the Ranger powders I used plus recommended a few replacements for the ones no longer made.

4. Emboss sentient from Snowflakes and Stardust Set in gold on vellum. Trim to a strip that's about 5 inches wide. Fold edges around embossed blue cardstock where shown. Hint: add a little adhesive behind the areas where the vellum will go, stick one side in the adhesive then fold around, adhering behind the other side. Adhere to card base.

Thursday, December 14, 2017

I love the layered look of this snowflake background. It is pretty easy to achieve. The most difficult part of making this card is remembering where you stamped the embossing ink! I ended up putting the embossing powder across the entire top and let it fall over the whole surface to see where the snowflakes were (over a sheet of paper to catch the extra of course), then added more powder where necessary. Since I wanted the background to really stand out, I just added a simple greeting with a few snowflakes to finish the card.

Affiliate links may be included in this post. I participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program that provides a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites at no cost to you. This helps offset a small portion of my crafting addiction... uh, hobby. See notice at bottom of blog for a longer description.

4. Use an ink blending tool to very lightly apply Broken China Distress Oxide ink - don't worry about streaks or unevenness; they won't be noticeable when finished. See above photo - top left image. Wipe over surface with a paper towel. Distress Oxide inks take a long time to dry. You may want to use the heat tool to speed up the process (be careful not to remelt the embossing - keep the tool moving). Test it before going to the next step by sprinkling some embossing powder over the surface. If any sticks, it is not dry, brush off and dry again. Once dry, use a powder tool over the surface again.

7. Use Aspen Flurry Punch All Over the Page on white cardstock to create snowflakes. I actually used the Punch Around the Page Snow Flurry punch but it is no longer manufactured, although you can still find it on eBay or other places online. Adhere snowflakes to sticky side of Post-it Tape. Apply Rock Candy Distress Stickles or Rock Candy Distress Stickles Glitter (I actually used Picket Fence Distress Stickles but it looks like it has been discontinued by Ranger). Let dry completely. Adhere where shown (I used tweezers to place each snowflake with a dab of glue).

Wednesday, December 6, 2017

Some of the recent Dreamerland Crafts stamps now have matching dies! This set is perfect for Spring, Summer, and Fall - depending on how you color the trees. It also comes with a kitten, a piglet, and a step ladder. I just love the sweet expression on the girl's face as she's petting the puppy on her lap.

Affiliate links may be included in this post. I participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program that provides a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites at no cost to you. This helps offset a small portion of my crafting addiction... uh, hobby. See notice at bottom of blog for a longer description.

4. Cut watercolor paper 3 5/8 x 4 7/8 inches. Using a Stamp Platform or Stamp Positioner, stamp hills in waterproof black ink (I used VersaFine Onyx Black). Hint: where the lines meet, use a little Post-It tape to mask excess overlap. Watercolor sky in a color similar to the blue in the patterned paper. While wet, use a scrunched up paper towel to create clouds. I added a little more green to color the grassy areas.

5. On another piece of watercolor paper, stamp the girl and about 10 trees (half tall, half short). Watercolor the trees in Fall colors. I used Prima Watercolor Confections. I colored the girl's dress to match the red-orange line in the patterned paper. Once dry, you may add shading with colored pencils (e.g. Faber-Castell Polychromos). I also use a Prismacolor blender pencil to smooth out the coloring. Die cut each of the pieces. Hint: use a small piece of Post-It tape to hold the dies in place as you cut.

6. Stamp sentiment where shown. Once dry, adhere trees and girl using dimensional tape behind the girl and behind some of the trees (the ones you want in front). I used Lineco glue in a Fineline applicator to adhere the trees that weren't going to be popped up; it's easier to use glue rather than tape due to the texture of the paper.

Thursday, November 30, 2017

This card has some incredible sparkle and shine, unfortunately not all of it shows in the photographs - but it is really beautiful in person. The Rubbernecker Stamps Snowflake Panel background and Snowflakes and Stardust tree stamps coordinate perfectly for a snowy holiday or Christmas card. Tim Holtz, Idea-ology, and Sizzix products help add to the fun.

Affiliate links may be included in this post. I participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program that provides a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites at no cost to you. This helps offset a small portion of my crafting addiction... uh, hobby. See notice at bottom of blog for a longer description.

2. Cut Canson Bristol XL paper about 5 x 7 inches. You could use regular cardstock but this paper makes blending easy. Use Stamp Platform or stamp positioner to stamp Snowflake Panel in VersaMark Ink or other embossing ink - you will cover the entire panel so you may want to stamp horizontally across the paper, embossing as you go. I recommend using a powder tool before stamping (although I forgot and some powder stuck where I didn't want it to - I didn't bother re-stamping, I figured it added to the snowy look... at least that's what I tell myself). Emboss with Silver Pearl embossing powder.

3. Once the paper has been completely embossed, use an ink blending tool to blend from bottom to top with the following Distress Inks: Stormy Sky, Faded Jeans, Chipped Sapphire, Dusty Concord. Be sure to overlap each color as you go. I usually blend up the paper then back down. Trim to 4 1/2 x 6 1/2 inches; add matching ink to edges so they won't stand out. Use a slightly damp paper towel to wipe over embossing. Spray a couple coats of Frost Sheer Shimmer Spritz. Adhere to card base.

Sunday, November 19, 2017

The background stamp for this card is the entire famous poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas" published anonymously in 1823. I embossed it in Liquid Platinum on red. The color is a beautiful warm silver - perfect for a holiday card. The double bow is dyed with Distress Inks, tied with twine, and fastened with a holiday brad.

Affiliate links may be included in this post. I participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program that provides a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites at no cost to you. This helps offset a small portion of my crafting addiction... uh, hobby. See notice at bottom of blog for a longer description.

4. Cut off a length of seam binding, enough for a double bow and tails. Dye with a combination of green Distress Inks or Distress Stains (e.g. Pine Needles and Peeled Paint). Once dry, wrap around your fingers a couple times, leaving a tail on each side. Tie in the middle with a piece of red/white twine. Bend the tines of a holiday brad around the middle. Adhere where shown.

I am Certified Copic Instructor and formerly a Class Instructor for Michaels (PaperEd: scrapbooking, card making, Copic coloring). My first design team was for Elizabeth Craft Designs 2014, followed by ECD's Susan Tierney-Cockburn's DT, 2015 - part of 2016, then finally back to the ECD team for the rest of 2016. I was also part of the Oak Tree Stamps DT 2015, Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko Artist in Residence Program 2016, Frantic Stamper DT Jan/Feb 2017 and Rubbernecker Stamps DT, Sep 2017-Jan 2018. I was a guest designer for Paper Smooches (October 2016) and Your Next Stamp (May 2017). I am currently on the Dreamerland Crafts and Xyron Design Teams.

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